Cong trying to legitimise corruption by discussion in Parl: BJP

New Delhi, Aug 26: Dismissing the charge that it was avoiding discussion in Parliament on coal blocks issue, BJP today accused the Congress of attempting to “legitimise” corruption by holding such a debate in the

New Delhi, Aug 26: Dismissing the charge that it was avoiding discussion in Parliament on coal blocks issue, BJP today accused the Congress of attempting to “legitimise” corruption by holding such a debate in the House and stuck to its demand for the Prime Minister's resignation.

“I can understand this charge of the Congress party that we are trying to shy away from Parliament. It is an absolute diversionary tactic. We are clear that we want a debate. But under the present conditions, we feel the Congress is using Parliament to legitimise corruption...,” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said as the deadlock in Parliament over the CAG report on coal block allocation showed no signs of abating.

“A new tradition is being set in this country by the Congress to legitimise corruption by holding discussion in Parliament. The BJP will take this fight to the whole country, from within Parliament to the common man on the street,” he said.

He alleged that the “Prime Minister's hands have turned black due to this coal scam”.

“Parliament has become a forum to legitimise corruption,” he said, while alleging that the Congress party indulges in corruption and then holds discussion in Parliament to legitimise it as had been done in the 2G scam, Commonwealth Games scam and other scams.

“Now it the Coalgate scam, where the Prime minister has been caught red-handed. Now they want to legitimise all this corruption by saying let's debate in Parliament. The country is not at all ready to use Parliament as a forum to legitimise corruption and this is our assertive stand,” Rudy said.

Demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, “We are asking for the resignation because if Raja had to go because he signed the 2G spectrum allocation, if Dayanidi Maran had to go because of his role, here is the PM, as a coal minister, has signed each and every allotment.

“Every minister who resigns, has a right to explain, so the moment he resigns he can explain.

“All parties are definitely worried about the situation, we all will meet, let us see how it progresses,” he said.